Wednesday, April 18, 2012

The Homemade Pantry (Humpday Giveaway!!!)

I love serendipity. It reinforces my belief in an invisible, physical interconnectedness permeating all things, made manifest only if you're still and quiet enough to notice it. It makes life seem a bit less scary, a bit more meaningful.

Such was the case recently with Alana Chernila. I belong to several book buyingclubs. Her book, The Homemade Pantry: 101 Foods You Can Stop Buying & Start Making, just published April 3rd. My book club began promoting it a few weeks ago and it instantly caught my eye. I checked into Alana, pre-ordered the book, and began following her on Twitter. Later that day, she followed me back, with a sweet message saying I seemed like someone she'd love to cook with. And so, an alliance was formed and we've been chatting each other up since.

This book. THIS. BOOK. Friends, you're going to love it. Literally running the pantry gamut from soup to nuts, Alana expertly shows you how to craft in your kitchen many items you're currently buying. Most of the projects don't involve a great deal of time or a long list of ingredients, either, so you really are saving in so many ways. The book is packed with recipes she feeds her own family, so you can trust each one to deliver.

Not only is the book comprehensive in range, it's kitchen-friendly, too. The cover is meant to withstand repeated splatters and the pages (full of beautiful photography!) are meant to be dog-eared and turned to, again and again.

I purchased my own copy and was so deeply smitten with it that I didn't want to give it away! I wrote Alana, detailing my plight to her. Her publisher, Potter, then generously offered to give a copy to one lucky small measure reader. To be entered in the giveaway, simply leave a comment below, listing one pantry staple you've long wished to conquer. For me, it's several (it's so hard to choose!): sauerkraut, bread, and mayonnaise.

In your reply, please leave a means of contacting you, should you be the winner, via either a link to your blog or website, or by listing your email address in your comment. I'll run the giveaway through next Wednesday, April 25th, midnight EST. Canadians, feel free to enter, too!

In the meantime, check out Alana's blog, Eating From the Ground Up, as well as her food tutorial videos. She's a lovely lady, a creative cook, a nurturing mama, and a sweet soul. Thanks, serendipity, for hitching my wagon to hers!

UPDATE: The winner of The Homemade Pantry is lucky #208, Amy! Thank you so very much to everyone who commented. I'm inspired by what everyone wants to learn to do!

what a great book! i would love to win it!! like you said, there are so many things i would like to make... but bread is one thing that comes to mind as a staple of the house that i should be making much more consistently. my email is simoneperrin@gmail.com. thanks!

Sigh...I'd love to conquer bread! I dream of being able to make sandwich bread, ciabatta, baguettes. I'd also like to conquer the condiments and have a steady supply of ketchup, mustard and BBQ sauce on hand!

I saw it the other day and really, really, wanted a copy to call my own. Alas, I was moving and couldn't really add one more book to the collection. Who knows, maybe serendipity will be on my side now, and bring me closer to all this pantry goodness?

I saw it the other day and really, really, wanted a copy to call my own. Alas, I was moving and couldn't really add one more book to the collection. Who knows, maybe serendipity will be on my side now, and bring me closer to all this pantry goodness?

i would love to have this book. I have bread making down - even started my own sourdough culture - but I would like to try sauerkraut. I am just not sure if the south FL climate will allow it to ferment rather than rot!

I want to learn how to make mayonnaise and yogurt. Mayo because I know a woman who makes slaw with her own may and it's so amazing...and I don't particularly care for slaw. And yogurt because it's yummy :)

My daughter Savanna has notoriously PICKY tastebuds and one of my biggest woes has been creating kid friendly foods for her that are homemade not processed. Add to that 2 teenage boys. I am sold by the picture of the pastries on the cover. My family would gobble those up in a heartbeat. I would love to be able to make snacks such as crackers as well as many other items. Please enter my name in the drawing. I have been enjoying your blog for a few months now, LOVE IT!

Oh my gosh, I just got to your blog from the Epicurious email today and I'm so excited to see everything you've written about. Definitely going to RSS your posts!

OK, what would I like to tackle? Cheese. I have been nurturing lustful cheese dreams since my children were young and I ordered the Laura Ingalls Wilder cookbook to augment our reading. Now that I'm buying raw milk, having the super healthy cheese rather than offerings full of nasty stuff would be incredible.

OH MY GOSH!!!!!! It's like this book was tailor-made for ME! I have a whole list of things: homemade noodles, nutella, sauerkraut (still too salty!) bagels, doughnuts! This is DEFINITELY going to the top of my list.

I've long wanted to find a way to make granola that is clumpy and crunch like the one you find commercially made (as opposed to more of a woody/sawdust/burnt oats taste and texture). I've yet to hit on exactly the right recipe.

I'd also love to find a ketchup recipe that doesn't take hours of work and that tastes more like commercial ketchup (most are way off on the spices and texture).

Pancakes. I am completely baffled - there are many complicated and exotic things that I've conquered, but I can only successfully make pancakes when using a mix. I would love to make my own sort of "add eggs and milk" dry pancake mix!

:-) What pantry staple wouldn't I like to learn more about?? We've been working on doing more whole food cooking but are still learning all the things we can actually make ourselves - the chapter on cereals would be amazing! ladybugpaper@shaw.ca

oh! i am definitely getting this, if i don't happen to win! it will go great with my ashley english books. (smile)I want to make bread and spaghetti sauce and breakfast on the go items.And I'm sure the book is full of things I don't even know I want to make!

I would love to read this book! I just fell into her lovely world last week when you suggested it in your Friday listings. Thank you! Amazing!

I'd love to conquer bread. A real staple around here. I've tried many times and have never been satisfied. I guess I just need to practice my kneading.

Ashley! You can totally do mayo! I just started two weeks back and I think the trick is to use a blender,or food processor, or maybe that sweet kitchenaid of yours. It's equally awesome to your fresh whipped cream or butter when you add it to sandwiches. (I mean, you will feel as awesome as when you make whipped cream) Good luck!

Oh- for me it's pasta. I always think if I can make our crackers and bread, for sure I can make our pasta. This book is right up my alley and will for sure teach me something new that I've overlooked. THanks for the chance!mandiandjohn(at)sbcglobal(dot)net

Talk about serendipity. We just got back to our son's home from another expedition downtown where I had this book in my hands at Malaprops. I didn't get it because we spent a small fortune there this morning (your dairy book was one of many that we got). I got online and you are offering it as a give away. I would love it! While on vacation, you can find me at dukej283@gmail.com. Thanks. dixie

This book looks amazing! I've recently started making my own granola which was the first item on my "to make myself life." And my own ketchup has been delightful. I really want to go through the refrigerator and throw out all the condiments to force myself to make them all from scratch and only the ones we really want!

I've got a long list too! I've started making my own bread, but I've yet to try things like crackers, tortilla or pitas. I haven't touch dairy yet at all, but would love to start making cheese and yogurt. And I've love to start making my own candy too...marshmallows for a start, and then moving on from there.

I really need to learn how to make dried cranberries and other fruits, as well as canned crushed tomatoes. I just haven't been able to get my hands on a bulk load of tomatoes to do this! This is a good goal for this summer. : )

I chuckled when I read "sauerkraut" on your list, because this is something I can't seem to be able to master no matter how hard I try. Perhaps this book will have some tips for this German-blooded girl who can't make her own sauerkraut?

Crackers are the one item on my 'homemade pantry' to-do list I'm always hesitant to tackle. Alongside them, perhaps a variety of condiments: mustard, ketchup, mayonnaise for sure. This sounds like a great book!

Tomato Paste. I want to get away from all tomato products in a can. But we LOVE tomatoes in my house. We have seedlings started for Roma and San Marzano tomatoes. How do I turn some of them into tomato paste?My email is DebDurden@gmail.com.

Hi Ashley, I would love to learn to make canned tomatoes and relishes. I recently learned to make bread and yogurt and highly recommend the King Arthur website to everyone wanting to master breads! jennies11@yahoo.com

Being blessed with Scandinavian heritage (Danish grandpa/Norwegian grandma), a sweet tooth just naturally accompanies me around our humble homestead on a daily basis. But it’s not just any ole sweet tooth...it’s pastry cravings! I can forego the dark chocolate or cookies, etc, but when the sweet tooth craving rolls over me, making pastry is the only “goods” that will satisfy. Like you, Ashley, I have more than one pantry staple to conquer, but the two that elude me (and these are the ones for which I usually drool!) are a bear claw and a maple-glazed Long John (maple bar). My grandma didn’t have recipes for these to share and my attempts at making either have been unsuccessful in both flavor and texture. What’s a girl to do?! I’m hoping Alana Chernilla can work her culinary magic and provide a solution.

Ashley, thanks for the opportunity to participate in The Homemade Pantry giveaway.

What a lovely giveaway! I will be purchasing this book if I am not the winner. It looks fabulous - I really want to stop buying anything prepackaged. Pop tarts, crackers, ketchup, ranch - the list goes on! Mrsbrady@roadrunner.com

Love your blog first of all, just stumbled upon it a few days ago. I would love to learn to make a healthy whole wheat bread that doesn't taste like cardboard and a few of the condiments we use on a regular basis such as ketchup & mayo.Thanks for the contest.

Greetings from Canada! I've always wanted to tackle sauerkraut, being as we are surrounded by Ukranian/Polish settlers here in own area. My kitchen "bucket list" also extends to everything from making cheese to "hide the recipe, oh so good" SALSA! Would absolutely love a copy of this eye pleasing book!

Ah! This book is just what I've been looking for! I've always wanted to make cheese, yogurt, butter, and I long to master the art of sourdough bread. I'm working on the last one, but the rest I've yet to try. Thanks for the great giveaway!

About Me

Making an attempt to craft a good life with my husband and young son in a small mountain community. I find pleasure in the light at dusk, atlases, hard cider, cat antics, dog breath, baby giggles, homemade ice cream and snorty laughter.
Author of the "Homemade Living" book series (Lark Books) which showcases topics related to small-scale homesteading and some of the diverse ways people are reconnecting with their food and food communities and taking up sustainable food practices.
I also host a bi-monthly column every Friday on Design*Sponge:http://www.designspongeonline.com/category/small-measures.
E-mail me directly at: ashleyadamsenglish(at)gmail.com.

The Best LIttle Chicken Coop in Candler

"The Big Problem is nothing more or less than the sum total of countless little everyday choices, most of them made by us and most of the rest of them made in the name of our needs and desires and preferences."-Michael Pollan